Retaining means for springs



Jan. 29, 1929.

J. BYSTRICKY RETAINING MEANS FOR SPRINGS Filed March 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l iiii's EIIIIIIA I IIIIIIQH:

HMZVENTOR. E f- M J K g g/#2??? I A TTORNEY-S Jan. 29, 1929.

J. BYSTRICKY RETAINING MEANS FOR SPRINGS 2 Shets-Sheet Filed March 15, 1924 n I n I M 0 I trill!!! INVENTOR.

WNQ vii-w:

ATTORNEY;

Fatentecl den. 29, 1929.

no STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH IBYSTRIGKY, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

.QJLEE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION' OF DELAWARE.

RETAINING MEANS FOR SPRINGS.

This invention relates to retaining means for springs associated with the ejector plunger employed in a lubricant dispensing apparatus.

In apparatus of such character, the lubricant is ejected by pressing a slidable plunger, which extends through the reservoir into the nozzle to eject a quantity of lubricant therefrom under pressure. It is desirable that the plunger be normally extended from the nozzle to place it in position for the lubricant ejecting operation, and a spring is usually connected with the plunger and secured to the apparatus to automatically return and maintain the plunger in such extended relation. The plunger usually extends through a cap which is removably attached to the reservoir and it is desirable to secure the spring with the cap thereby limiting the ejection movement of the plunger and associating the spring and plunger with the cap so that they can be removed and assembled as a unit relative to the reservoir. Thus by removing the capthe ejecting mechanism is removed as a 93 unit and the reservoir is entirely open for filling purposes.

An object of my invention is to provide a retainer of the above nature, which can be readily assembled with the removable cap to 130 secure the spring and plunger therewith.

Another object of my invention is to provide a retainer which when inserted within the removable cap will automatically lock with the inner wall thereof to prevent its removal.

These and other objects, and the invention itself. will be described in detail hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a specific embodiment of my invention- Fig. 1 is a medial sectional view of a lubricant dispensing apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the removable cap, the piston, follower. spring, and retainer assembled together and removed from the reservoir;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the retainer; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the retainer taken on line l4l of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 shows a tubular container or lubricant reservoir which is open at both ends. The outer surface 11 of one end of such container is threaded to receive a closure cap 12, which is provided with threads 13 on its inner wall adjacent the open end thereof, the cap'being adapted to be screwed on or off the threaded end of the container.

At 14 I show a combined end cap and dispensing nozzle, the end cap being cylindrical and fitted within the open end of the barrel forming a part of the lubricant reservoir. The tubular nozzle 15 projects from the cap, and has a passage longitudinally therethrough which is in open communication with the cap portion and the container. A connector 16 is secured upon the end of the nozzle and is provided with a. concave semi-spherically shaped end face 17 having an outlet opening 18 extending centrally therethrough, adapted to form a leakeproof joint with a nipple when held thereagainst. A restricted passage 19 is provided through an internal flange 20 within the passage 21 which extends longitudinally through the nozzle, and a ball 22 normally closes the passage 19, being maintained against the outer side of the flange 20 by a coil spring 23 bearing thereagainst and seated against the inner side of the contact face 17 A follower 24 is placed within the cylinder and is free to slide therein following the lubricant within the reservoir as the supply diminishes during operation of the apparatus. This follower is provided with a central aperture through which a plunger rod 25 can be reciprocated and is retained upon the rod by a shoulder 35 welded to the rod. The rod extends axially through an aperture 28 in the removable cap and into the container, and an operating handle26 is, securedto the external end of the rod. The inner end 27 of the rod provides a plunger for entering the nozzle and compressing the lubricant in the nozzle until it is forced through the aperture in the contact face, the pressure of the lubri- Fcant opening the valve and permitting the lubricant so compressed to pass therethrough. As the operator presses against the handle the plunger will enter the nozzle and serve as a valve between the nozzle and the reservoir shutting oif communication therebetween. The removal of the plunger from the nozzle creates a-so-called vacuum, which will act to draw a new supply of lubricant into the nozzle from the container priorto another operation of the plunger.

It is desirable that the plunger be automatically returned to extended position, rather than by a manual operation, and that such mechanism and the plunger are associated so that they can be removed with the removable cap as a unit, and my invention, which I will now describe, has to do therewith. The rod is provided with a shoulder 31, which is welded or otherwise secured thereto, and a slidable washer 32is slidably mounted upon the plunger rod. A coil spring 30 encircles the plunger rod and bears against the washer 32. The plunger is mounted through the cover cap so that the shoulder 31 lies beneath the aperture 28 and will engage the inner end of the cap to prevent displacement of the rod through the aperture and also limit the movement of rod to define its extended relation. The washer 32 is maintained adjacent the shoulder 31 by the spring 30, all of such structure being maintained within the cap by a retainer 33. V

The retainer 33 is formed of sheet metal and is inserted within the threaded end of the closure cap and automatically interlocks with the threaded wall thereof when inserted therein. The retainer is pressed into the cap against the spring, thereby creating tension against the washer 32 and the shoulder 31 to normally maintain the plunger in extended position relative to the nozzle.

The retainer is preferably cup-shaped in form and is inserted in the cap so that the s ring will seat against the inner base thereof.

paced fingers 34 project outwardly from the edge of the retainer and the ends 37 thereof are curved back in the direction of the base of the cup, thereby permitting them to ride over the threaded wall of the closure cap when the retainer is inserted therein. These fingers are resilient and the ends thereof will face the threads and engage them to prevent outward displacement of the retainer, after being inserted in position. In this manner the retainer can readily be pressed into position and the fingers will automatically lock with the wall of the cap to prevent displacement.

The base of the retainer is provided with an axial aperture 38 through which the plunger rod slides and the inward, ejecting movement of the plunger is limited when the spring is compressed against the base of the retainer.

The outward movement of the plunger is limited by the abutment of the shoulder 31 with the inner wall of the end of the cap.

The follower being secured upon the rod,

and the rod and spring being secured to the the inner threaded walls of said ca retainer construction can be easily and readily attached to the cap affording an inexpensive locking mechanism for the spring and plunger, which requires a minimum amount of labor to assemble with the device in the association related.

What I claim is 1. A lubricant dispensing apparatus comprising a container having an inlet opening, and a discharge nozzle, a removable cap for enclosing the inlet opening in said container, said cap being threaded internally, a slidable plunger rod extending through said cap to be pressed into said nozzle to eject lubricant therefrom, a spring within said cap to normally maintain said rod in a position removed from said nozzle, and a retainer in said cap for securing said spring therein under tension, said retainer having resilient fingers to engage the threaded portions of said cap, to prevent outward displacement of the spring when the cap is removed from the container.

2. A lubricant dispensing apparatus comprising a container having an inlet opening, and a discharge nozzle, a removable cap for enclosing the inlet opening in said container, said cap being threaded internally, a slidable plunger rod extending through said cap and adapted to be pressed into said nozzle to ejectlubricant therefrom, a spring within said cap to normally maintain said rod in a position removed from said nozzle, and a retainer in said cap for securing said spring therein under tension, said retainer having resilient means about its outer periphery for engagement with the inner walls of said cap to prevent the outward displacement of the spring when the cap is removed from the container.

3. A lubricant dispensing apparatus comprising a container having an inlet opening, and a discharge nozzle, a removable cap for enclosing the inlet opening in said container, said cap being threaded internally, a slidable plunger rod extending through said cap and adapted to be pressed into said nozzle to eject lubricant therefrom, a spring within said cap to normally maintain said rod in a position removed from said nozzle, and a retainer in said cap for securing said spring therein under tension, said retainer having curvedresilient fingers projecting at spaced intervals 7 from the outer periphery thereof engaging to pre vent the outward displacement of t e spring when the ca is removed from the container.

4. In a In ricant dispensing apparatus, a

rod extending through said cap and adapted to be pressed into said nozzle to eject lubri-.

cant therefr0m,'a spring within said cap to normally maintain said rod in a position removed from said nozzle, and a retainer with-. a in said cap for securing said sprmg'theremf under tension, said retainer havin radially projecting resilient fingers space at inter vals around the outer periphery thereof, said fingers adapted to engage the threadedwall fof the cap when the same is removed from said container thereby preventing outward displacement of the spring when the cap is re moved from the container.

5. In a lubricant dispensing-apparatus of the class described, a container having a fillinlg opening, a removable cap for closing said. fi mg openmg, said cap havin an uneven inner surface, a reciprocable liibricant dispensing member extending through said cap,

a spring within said cap. for biasing said member toward one limit of its movement,

' and a retainer within said cap for securing said spring therein, said retamer having resilient means for engaging the uneven surface of said cap to prevent outward displace- I container having an in ct opening and a is- 1 charge nozzle, a removable cap for enclos ng the inlet opening in said container, said cap' j having an uneven inner surface, -.'a;slidable a plunger rod extendingthrough said cap and adapted to be pressed mto said nozzle to eject lubricant therefrom, a spring within said cap for normally mamtaming said rod in a position removed from said nozzle, and a retainer within said cap for securing sa1d spring there-,

in under tension, said retainer having resi1-' ient means for engaging saiduneven surface to prevent outward 1 taine .In testimony whereof I- hereunto aflix signature.,. v.

JosEPH Sm-m.

splacement of the spring when the cap 1s removed from the conv I o 

